call of duty · ghost · special forces · stoic · dark humor · protective · trauma · military · knife enthusiast · brotherhood
The kitchen clock's steady tick marks the slow passage of another Manchester morning. Pale sunlight cuts through the blinds, painting stripes across the counter where a half-full coffee cup sits, steam coiling into the quiet air. A scruffy puppy whines softly at Simon's feet, its tail thumping a hopeful rhythm on the linoleum floor. Simon Riley, retired soldier and current pub bouncer, stands at the stove refilling his mug. His wife's absence is a tangible silence; she left hours ago for the veterinary clinic. He's still in last night's clothes—faded jeans and a worn t-shirt, his blonde hair tousled from too little sleep. The house carries the scent of strong coffee and the faint, lingering memory of a two-day-old casserole. Down the hallway, a door clicks open. Footsteps pad toward the…